Snatch block



Jan. 7, 1936. w EE 2,027,279

' SNATCH BLOCK Filed Oct. 3, 1935 WITNESVSES r W?!- v Z 16077 le'sPatented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED PATEN T O F FI 'C E SNATCH BLOCK William J.Lee, Lockport, N. Y., assignor to The Western Block Company, Lockport,N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 3, 1935, Serial No.43,415

2 Claims.

Fig. 3 shows a fragmental view somewhat enlarged as compared with Figs.1 and 2, showing the parts in side elevation;

Fig. 4 shows a front elevation of the spring which prevents theaccidental disengagement of the connection between the head and link;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the spring shown in Fig. 4.

Similar reference characters will be employed throughout thespecification to designate corresponding parts.

In the drawing is shown a tackle block or, as it is sometimes called, asnatch block, excepting as will be pointed out, of well knownconstruction comprising shell members i and 2 commonly made of wood,malleable iron, steel, or other material suitable for the purpose. Toeach of the shell members i and 2 are fixedly secured the suspensionstraps 3 and 3 held in place by any suitable means, as for instance thepockets 5 and B, on the outer side which may be formed integrally withthe shell members, and each of the suspension straps 3 and t bearsagainst the upwardly extending supports I and 8 forming a partrespectively of the shell members I and 2.

The block further comprises the usual head 9 which is pivotally engagedwith the looped end of the strap 3 so that the head may swing from adisconnected to a connected position, as clearly shown in the drawing.The head 9 at a point diametrically opposite itsconnection with the loopof the strap 3 is provided with a horn or hook I arranged to be engagedby a loop or link II which. is pivotally connected with the upper loopedend of the strap 6. As usual in such constructions, the lower ends ofthe straps 3 and 4 project upwardly to a different extent so that whenthe head 9 is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the horn or hookIt may be engaged with the loop or link I I, and when under load willremain in that position while the block is supportdng the load, as forinstance the cable passing over and around the pulley l2, or carried bythe swiveled hook I3 carried by the head 9.

All the parts so far described may be of any usual or preferredconstruction and in and of themselves constitute no part of the presentinvention. Such blocks in use, when relieved of the load by the droppingof the head, frequently result in the accidental disconnection of theloop or link II with the horn II] which if not discovered before liftingthe load, frequently leads to serious accidents as in such a conditionthe weight or load will be entirely borne by the 19 strap 3.

The object of the present invention is to prevent the accidentaldisconnection of the hook or horn I El and loop or link I I, and forthis purpose the block is provided with a spring I4 engaging the loop orlink II at a point above its pivotal connection with the strap 4 sothat, as indicated in .dotted lines in Fig. 3, the spring has a tendencyto always move the loop or link II from the position shown in dottedlines in that figure to the position shown in full lines, thuspreventing the accidental disconnecting of the horn Ill with the loop orlink II.

The spring I4 is provided with a downwardly extending shank or tongueI5, an intermediate cross member I6, and the parallel upwardly extendingarms I! of such a length and so spaced with relation to each other thanwhen in position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the arms I I will bearupon the side members of the loop I I exerting pressure thereonimmediately above the pivotal connection of the lower end of the loop orlink I I with the strap 4, all as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Thespring I4 is secured in. position by inserting the shank or tongue I5 inthe socket 6, and when positioned as shown in Fig. 3, the pressure ofthe upwardly extending arms I! against the link or loop I I will holdthe link II in operative position, ready to be engaged by the hook orhorn I0 and to resist the accidental disconnection thereof.

The upper ends of the arms I! of the spring 5 8 may be transverselydished or. curved as shown at I 8, forming upon their inner faces aconcave seat I9 to more efiectively engage the loop or link II which isgenerally made substantially round or circular in cross section.Obviously the spring I4 will be made of steel or other suitable springmaterial.

It is thought that the operation of my improved tackle or snatch blockhas been sufliciently described in connection with the foregoingdescription of its construction and that a further description of itsoperation will not be required.

I claim: latter pocket and extending upwardly therefrom 1. In a snatchblock, in combination, shell n p s o engage the loop or link. members,open pockets on opposite sides thereof, 2. A snatch block such asdefined in claim a swinging head provided with a hook or horn, a inwhich the shank of the spring is provided with support therefor mountedin one of the shell 2. cross member extending laterally upon eachpockets, a, loo or link arranged, t engage th side thereof with upwardlyextending parallel said horn, a support therefor mounted in thelaterally spaced m m arr n e to en a e the pocket on the opposite side,and a spring acting l p or link up pp sid s of ts pp thereon, saidspring having a shank fitted in said WILLIAM J. LEE.

